Liquid-feeding device



LIQUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 11, 1923. 1,467,633

J.C.COULOMBE LIQUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15,-1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 J3 jzveizta 7 Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

NHED srarss JOSEPH C. COULOMBE, OF DBAOUT, MASSA.CHUSETTS.

LIQUID-FEEDING nnvron.

Application filed December 15, 1919. Serial No. 345,025.

To (LIZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErH C. CoULoMBn, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Dracut, in the county of Middlesen and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to liquid fuel feeding devices, generally known as vacuum feeds, of the kind commonly used in automobiles for raising gasoline or other liquid fuel from a supply tank at a low level to a level above the carbureter of the engine, to which carbureter the fuel is delivered from the feeding device by gravity. The vacuum or suction for operating such devices is usually developed in the intake manifold of the engine, although the subatmospheric pressure may be obtained by other means,

The invention consists in certain modifications of and improvements upon vacuum operated liquid feeding devices of the type shown in my applications -for Letters-Patout of the United States, Ser. No. 229,538, tiled April 19, 1918, and Serial No. 72,193, tiled January 15. 1916, and its object is to simpl fy and improve the construction and operation. of such devices in the manner hereinafter more fully described and par ticularly pointed out in the claims. 2

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of my inven tion,

Figure 1 is a feeding device;

Figure 2 a top plan view of the same;

Fl 'ure 8 is an enlarged detail view of the main valve, partly in side elevation and partly in section; and

Figure 4 is a detail, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing a modification.

3 represents the side walls of the outer casing or tank, preferably cylindrically formed of sheet metal. The bottom 6 of the tank is formed of pres-led sheetmetal slig concaved and tightly titted to the sidev Z'i. Thotop 7 of the tank is also made of pressed sheet metal fitted to walls 5 by a close, but not a gas tight joint, and formed with an integral dome-like protuberance c. the sides of which are flat as shown at 9 and 10 to receive the pipe fittings or vertical section of the liquid nipples to which the suction pipe and the liquid supply pipe are connected.

The joint between the tlange 7 of the top and the upper edge of the tank walls is sufiiciently loose to admit air, but closes the tank against dust and dirt.

The pipe fitting 11, to which is connected the suction pipe or vacuum pipe leading to the intake manifold of the engine or other suction producing means (not shown), is tightly connected to the flat wall 9 by a head 12 on the inside of the wall and a nut 13 on the outside of the wall. The pipe fitting 14, which is connected to the liquid fuel supply (not shown) is tightly fitted to the flat wall 10 by a head 15 on the inside of the wall and a nut '16 on the outside of the wall. The pas sage 17 through fitting lt connects with the passage through fitting 18 which is screwed into the side of the head 15.

At the bottom of the tank the final outlet port is through pipe fitting 19 set into an aperture in the bottom 6 and connected to the pipe (not shown) leading to the carbureter. 20 is a strainer mounted on the head of fitting 19.

The inner casing 21 constitutes a vaci'ium or suction chamber. Its top is tightly fitted into a shoulder 22 of thetank top 7, and its bottom is closed by a plate 23 screwed to a ring 24 with a gas tight gasket or'packing between them. The ring 2 1 is formed with a flange tightly fitting the cylindrical walls of casing 21. i

26 is a liquid seal chamber or float control chamber, and consists of an inverted cuplike casing supported on a post 27 which is fixedly mounted on plate 23. A float 28,

which is preferably of cork, is arranged in. the float control chamber 26 to slide freely on post 27 as a guide. The float controls a valve 29 between the suction chamber 21 and the distributing chamber 30 in the lower part of tank 5. The valve 29 cooperates with an inclined valve seat or collar 31 secured to the bottom plate 23 of the suction chamber; and an air tube 32 rises from the highest part of the inclined valve seat to a point above the normal level of the liqiud in the suction chamber for a purpose hereinafter explained.

As the upper edge of tank 5 is not sealed to the top 7 but fits loosely the distributing chamber 30 is always at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Centrally arranged in the valve 29 is a relief valve 33 mounted on a. screw threaded stem 34- which extends through the relief valve seat in the valve 29 and is screwed into the end of the main valve stem 35. The end of stem is countersunk and provided with relief ports 36 to permit the escape of air through the relief valve when the end of stem 35 is forced down against the main valve 29. The valve 29 is loose on stem 34: and is therefore free to accommodate itself to its seat. The main valve stem 35 is connected to one end of a lever 36 pivoted on a bracket 37, as at 38, the other end of the lever being connected by a slot and pin connection 39, 10, to the bottom of the float 28.

The inverted cup 26 of the liquid seal chamber or float control chamber has an annular cup or flange 11 extending around the outside and forming a. trough or gutter; and within the wall of the inverted cup 26 is an upwardly extending flange or shell 42. Perforations t3 afford communication connecting the trough 41 with the space between the walls of cup 26 and the flange The flange 12 extends nearly to the top of the float control chamber.

Below the gasoline or liquid fuel inlet passage 17 is a valve lat, mounted on a float 45, adapted to rise and cut off the supply in case through any mischance the liquid should rise in chamber 21 suflicicntly above a predetermined high level to actuate float 15. The float 45 is supported in a housing 46 which has a slot 47 on the side toward the gutter all. thereby deflecting the inflowing liquid into gutter 41. v

Secured to the bottom of float 23 a siallow battle cup 18 which terminates below the lower edge of the inverted cup 26 when the float is in its lowermost position, and extends above and outside of the edge of cup 26 when the float is in its uppermost position. cup 48 is a hole through spout 41-9. which is made with a jagged or corrugated edge as shown.

To hold and guide the main valve 29 and relief valve 3:. during their operation.

link 50 is provided, pivoted at one end to lugs 51 on the bottom of plate 23. and at the other end pivoted to the body of valve 33. The link 50 has a shoulder 52 which serves as a stop to engage the lower edge of valve 29 and prevent the lower edge of the valve from tipping farther away from itsseat than the upper edge when the valve is opened, as it would tend to do under the influence of the flowing liquid. This insures a free passage for the flow of air through the air tube.

The operation. of the device is as follows: With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the fitting 11 connected to the In the bottom of the baffle intake manifold of the engine or other vacuum producing means. and the fitting 1% connected to the liquid fuel supply. liquid fuel will be drawn from the supply tank through passage 17 into the suction chamber 21. When the level of the liquid rises to the lower edge of the inverted cup 26 it will seal the cup and continue to rise in chamber 21, and also less rapidly in the liquid seal chamber 26, in which the air now trapped as the holes 43 are sealed by the liquid in trough 41. There will therefore be a difference in level between the liquid in chamber 21 and in chamber 26, which difference in level is automatically controlled by the holes 13. which will allow air in chan'iber 26 to escape when it exceeds a predetermined pressure thus permitting the level of the liquid in chamber 26 gradually to rise.

As soon the level of the liquid rises sufliciently to lift the float 28. the rfll'ltlll relief valve 33 will be opened; admitting air from chamber 30 and reducing the vacuum (increasing the pressure, in suction chamber 21. The vacuum now being broken the float 28 free to rise and easily forces the mainvalve 29 off from its scat, permitting the liquid in vacuum chamber 21 to flow by gravity into distributing chzunbcr 30. The quick flow of the fluid through valve 29 is facilitated by the inclined valve 29 and the air tube 32 leading cm the highest part of the valve opening. as the liquid seeks the lowest part and the air ris ing through the same valve opening is permitted to pass substantially unobstructed by flowing liquid. up through the air pipe 32 into chamber 21.

The float 28 will remain in its elevated position. being held by the conditions of relativc pressure between chambers 21 and 26. until the level of the liquid in chamber 21 falls below the spent 49. Thereupon the liquid seal will be broken in cup 48 (the corrugated edge of spout s9 hel iing the better to break the seal) the relative pressures between chambers 21 and 26 will tend to equalize. the contents of the chamber 26 will be discharged and will flow by gravity through the valve 29. and the float will be released and will drop with a quick motion and close valve 29. The condition of partial acuum will then be reestablished in suction chamber 21 and the cycle of operations repeated. It will be understood that the liquid fuel flows from distributing chamber 30 to the carbnreter by gravity.

In case the level of the liquid in the suction chamber 21 should rise too high the valve .44: carried by "float 45 will close and cut off the supply through inlet passage 17.

l i ith the structure above described. the top 7 of the tank i made of a single piece of pressed sheet metal instead of requiring a casting as in my said former application, and the pipe fittings are merely screw machine parts fastened to the top by nuts,thus simplifying and reducing the cost of manufacture. Similarly the bottom 6 is a single piece oi. pressed sheet metal, the outlet opening oi which is shaped to hold the it ting l9.

T he float and alve 4:4- serve to out OK the liquid "fuel supply and prevent the flooding of the device under unusual conditions such as the elevation of the supply tank above the vacuum teed device, when the automobile is on an incline, which might result in the flow of the liquid fuel into the de vice by gravity. The slot 4L7 in the side of the housing 46 insures the filling of the cup or trough 41:1 with the liquid.

1 asmuch as the inverted cup or liquid seal chamber 26 is supported on post 27, which is fixed to the bottom plate 23 of the suction chamber, the inverted cup, float,

valve, valve-operating connections and all associated parts can be removed. as aunit for repair or replacement by merely unscrewing and removing the detachable bottom plate #3 from suction tank 21. The post- 27 also, being supported at the lower end instead of its top end, extends completely through the float and serves as a guide throughout the whole length of the float in all positions of the float.

The inclined valve 29and valve seat 31,

allow the suction tank to empty more quickly than a horizontal valve, because'with a horizontal valve the air has to rise directly through the downwardly flowing liqui d. whereas with a valve lower at one edge than at the other the liquid tends to HO to v the lowest part of the valve opening while the air rises through the upper part, and instead Oil then bubbling up through the liquid in the suction chamber, is carried by the air tube 32 to a point above the level of the liquid. This "function could be secured by arranging the valve at any angle to a horizontal plane, even a right angle, as well as the angle of: inclination illustrated in lhc drawings.

The strainer screen 20 at the final outlet readily accessible and may be removed tor cleaning or repair by merely taking out the suction tank from the outer tank 5.

in the modification shown in Fig. 4, the air tube 32* instead of being; fixed to the bottom plate of the suction chamber is fixed to the valve stem 35. Its function and mode o operation in carrying: oil the rising air when the valve is opened. are substantially the same as in the form already described.

I claim: i

1. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chamber, a discharge passage connecting said chambers, an inclined valve seat for the discharge passage, a valve normally seated upon the inclined valve seat, said valve when seated being at an angle to a horizontal plane, a float n'iber in the suction chamber and connections actuable by said float member for controlling the opening and closing movements of said inclined valve.

2. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing tank, a suction tank removably connected to the distributing tank and having); a detachable bottom, a post fixed to the detachable bottom, a float guided by said post, and a valve actuated by the float, said post, float, valve and valve mechanism being carried by said detachable bottom and removable, therewith.

3. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing tank, suction tank removably connected to the distributing tank and hav ing a detachable bottom, a post fixed to the detachable bottom, a float guided by said post, a liquid seal cl'iamber fixed to the upper end of the post having a closed top and open bottom encircling the float, and a valve actuated by thetloat, said post, liquid seal chamber, float, valve and valve mechanism being carried by sa 1d detachable bottom and removable. therewith.

4. A liquid feeding device comprising; distributing chamber, a suction chamber, a discharge passage leading from the suction chamber to the distributingchamber, an iuclined valve seat for said discharge passage,

a main valve member normally seated upon the inclineovalve seat. said valve when seated being at an angle to a horizontal plane, an auxiliaryvalve for closing and opening in 'said' main valve, a float member in the suction chamber and connections actuable by said fioat member for first opening said tributing: chamber. and an air tube leading from. the hip her part ot the valve opening to a point above the normal level of liquid in the suction chamber.

6. A liquid feeding device comprising tank having a top made oi single piece of pressed sheet metal termed with a dome- 1 like protuberance, said protuberance having an opening in its side wall. and a pipe fitting comprising an externallythreaded tuhular nortiou projecting through said openand an enlarged head bearing: against the inner wall of said protuberance, and a nut member engaging; the screw threads of said tubular portion and bearing against lll) the exterior surface of said protuberance.

7. A liquid feeding device comprising a tank having a top made of a single piece of pressed sheet metal formed with a dome like protuberance, having flat side walls, and laterally extending pipe fittings secured to said flat side walls.

8. A liquid tecdingdevice comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chamber having a liquid inlet port, a valve between said chambers, a float for controlling said valve, liquid sea chamber encircling the float, trough on the exterior of said liquid seal chamber communicating with a trough on the interior of the liquid seal chamber, a float controlled valve for closing the inle' port of the suction chamber when the liquid therein attains a predeterminedabnormal level, and a housing around the last men-- tioned float having discharge opening in one side adapted to deliver liquid into the trough on the exterior of the liquid seal chamber.

9. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chau'tber. a valve between said chambers. a float for controlling said valve, a liquid seal chamber encircling the float, a shallow cup carried by the bottom of said float cooperating with the lower edge of the liquid seal chamber, and an aperture in the bottom of said cup to ttacilitate the breaking of the seal in the liquid seal chamber. Y

10. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chamber, a valve between said chambers, a float for controlling said valve, a liquid seal chamber encircling the float, a shallow cup carried by the bottom of said float cooperating with the lower edge of the liquid seal chamber, and a spout having a corrugated. edge leading from the bottom of the said cup to facilitate the breaking oil the seal in the liquid seal chamber.

11. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chamber, a valve between said chambers, a float in the suction chamber, valve-actuating connections extending through the valve opening, said connections including a valve stem on which the valve is mounted, and a guide link pivoted at one end to the valve stem and at the other end to a flxed part of the device.

12. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chamber, a valve between said chambers, a float in the suction chamber, valve-actuating connections extending through the valve opening, said connections including a valve stem on which the valve is mounted and a guide link pivoted at one end to the valve stem at the distributing chamber side of the valve and at the other end to a wall of the distributing chamber,

13. A liquid feeding device comprising a distributing chamber, a suction chamber, a valve between said chambers arranged at an angle to a horizontal plane, a float in the suction chamber, valve-actuating connections extending through the valve opening, said connections including a valve stem on which the valve is loosely mounted, and a guide link pivoted at one end to the valve stem at the distributing chamber side of the valve and at the other end to a wall of the distributing chamber, said link having a part adapted to constitute a stop to engage the lower edge oi the valve.

14:. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate therebetween, said separating plate having a plurality oit' ducts leading through said plate through one of which a fluid may descend, through another of which a fluid may ascend, and a single means for interrupting the passage of fluids through both of said ducts.

15. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate ther between, said separating plate having a plu rality of ducts leading through said plate, through one of which a fluid may descend, through another of which a fluid may ascend, and means for simultaneously interrupting the passage of fluids through both of said ducts.

16. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate therebetween, said separating plate having a plurality of ducts leadin through said plate, through one of which a fluid may descend. through another of which a fluid may ascend, and means dependent on the level of the liquid in one of said chambers for interrupting the passage ot fluids through both of Said ducts.

17. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a se arating plate there between, said separating plate having a plu- 'ality of ducts leading through said plate, through one of which a fluid may descend, through another of which a fluid may ascend, and means dependent on the level of the liquid in one of said chambers for simultaneously interrupting the passage of fluids through both of said ducts.

18. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate there between, said separating plate being provided with a passageway through which a fluid may descend, said passageway having a conduit through which a fluid may ascend, and a single means for closing said passageway.

19. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate therebetween, said separating plate being provided with a passage-way through which a fluid may descend, said passageway having a conduit through which a fluid may ascend, and means extending across the bottom of said conduit for closing said passageway.

20. In combination, a vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate therebetween, said separating plate being provided with a passageway through which a fluid may descend, said passageway having a conduit through which a fluid may ascend, and means extending across the bottom of said conduit and dependent on the level of the liquid in one of said chambers for closing said passageway.

21. In combination, a Vacuum chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a separating plate there between, said separating plate being provided with a passageway through which a fluid ma descend said assa 'ewa r havin a conduit through which a fluid may ascend, and means extending across the bottom of said conduit and dependent on the level of the liquid in said vacuum chamber for simultaneously closing said passageway.

In combination, a separating plate provided with an aperture, a collar within and a closure capable of controlling movement of fluids through said aperture.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 9th day of December, 1919.

JOSEPH G. COULOMBE.

said aperture, a pipe within said collar, 

